In the green countryside, the cows graze leisurely on the slope, accompanied by the crisp sound of nursery rhymes, the cow herding baby and the Nian Qianyao guarding the city gate meet again. The two of them sat on the ground with small sticks and pebbles as chess pieces, enjoying the fun of the chess game. The former general of Suiyuan in the northwest, Nian Qianyao, although he is now full of dirty hair, full of beard, and wearing the yellow coat that has been blackened, his eyes still shine with wisdom.
Nian Qianyao's life can be described as ups and downs. He once made great achievements for the Yongzheng Emperor, but now he has been demoted to a soldier guarding the city gate for various crimes. His yellow coat, once a symbol of honor and merit, has now become a footnote to his tragic fate. When Zhang Tingyu exposed Nian Qianyao's various crimes, Emperor Yongzheng's heart was full of contradictions and hesitation. But in the end, he still made up his mind to give Nian Qianyao death. At this historic moment, the Yongzheng Emperor sent his former minion Li Wei to Hangzhou to carry out this mission. Nian Qianyao understood that his life had come to an end. In his messy residence, Li Wei handed Yongzheng's death decree to Nian Qianyao. And Nian Qianyao took out the Buddha beads given to him by Yongzheng and asked Li Wei to transfer them to Yongzheng.
In "Who are the cows busy for, busy with spring plowing and autumn grain; It is not afraid of wind, frost, rain and snow, and it is not afraid of the bell, and it will go everywhere", Nian Qianyao chose to end his life under the city gate. His crying and laughing, giving and returning have become the last marks of his life. This "Shepherd Boy" became the last chant of his life, singing the sadness and misery of his life.
As Emperor Yongzheng's clothed minion, why did Nian Qianyao end up like this? This may be a mystery that will never be solved. However, history is always full of endless variables and possibilities, and the end of a life may be the beginning of a new era. Revisiting "Yongzheng Dynasty", we can't help but ask: under the giant wheel of history, who can escape the whirlpools and waves? Nian Qianyao's ending had already been foreshadowed in his basin of foot-washing water, and even deeper hidden in his bones. 01 work. Nian Qianyao, who was once a slave of Emperor Yongzheng's palace, did many things for Yongzheng, especially when he helped Yongzheng find the strategist Wu Sidao. And Wu Sidao played a vital role in the fourth master Yinzhen finally winning the throne, and it can be said that he was the first hero. However, Nian Qianyao still has two great achievements, one solves Yongzheng's heart knot, and the other solves Yongzheng's external troubles.
* Jiangxia Town, untie Yongzheng's heart knot. Jiangxia Town, a place that was once stationed by Emperor Kangxi during his third southern tour and was given a plaque, has become a vassal and financial source of the Eight Masters. Liu Ba Nu, the owner of the village there, thinks very highly of herself and doesn't take anyone else in her eyes anymore. When the fourth and thirteenth masters planned to spend the night in Jiangxia Town on their way back to Beijing after fundraising for the Yellow River disaster relief, they were stopped and humiliated. Fortunately, with the help of Fifth Brother Zhang, they were able to enter the village and live in the inn. However, Liu Ba Nu's subordinate Hu Jiaotou sent people to assassinate them and rob them of their property, and they also embarrassed Zhang Wuge's family in public. Later, Liu Ba Nu rushed to hear the news, and the fourth master tried to blur his words and not show his identity, but he was driven away by Liu Ba Nu, and was even forced to dismount to cross the city gate, and the people on the city tower burst into laughter. All this has become a shame in Yongzheng's heart. Nian Qianyao received a secret order from the Thirteenth Master, and passed through Jiangxia Town to arrest Liu Banu on the pretext of going to Beijing to report on his work. Nian Qianyao led 500 elite soldiers to slaughter Jiangxia Town overnight, and obtained the pawn tickets and gold and silver treasures of the "Hundred Officials' Description" in the pawnshop in the capital from Ren Bo'an. This night's ** washed away the shame in Yongzheng's heart. Although Nian Qianyao's methods were cruel, robbing property and concealing it, although Emperor Yongzheng was jealous, he knew that Nian Qianyao was a thorn in his heart, and this thorn was finally pulled out.
Therefore, Nian Qianyao's ending has long been hidden in the thorn he pulled out for Yongzheng, and the basin of footwashing water is just a symbol. His cruelty, greed, and ambition eventually led to his downfall. Nian Qianyao brilliantly completed many major events expected by Emperor Yongzheng, including the pacification of the northwest, which has always been a major problem for Yongzheng. In order to achieve this goal, he not only mobilized the troops and horses of Sichuan and Shaanxi, but also unified the command of the armies of several other provinces, which made Nian Qianyao's power expand rapidly in a short period of time. At the same time, Emperor Yongzheng also provided a solid backing for Nian Qianyao, and the resources of the whole country were used for it. On the battlefield in the northwest, Nian Qianyao showed his military talents. In one year's time, he successfully besieged the rebels in Qinghai like iron buckets. With the assistance of Wu Sidao, Nian Qianyao found the main force of the rebels and annihilated them in one fell swoop, once again achieving peace in the northwest. This victory not only allowed Emperor Yongzheng to fulfill two of Emperor Kangxi's last wishes, but also allowed him to concentrate on rectifying internal affairs.
Nian Qianyao's actions, whether it was the ** of Jiangxia Town or the victory in the northwest, greatly supported the rule of Emperor Yongzheng. But at the same time, these actions were also tainted with too much blood and atrocities, which gradually ruined Nian Qianyao's reputation. After reaching the pinnacle of power, Nian began to gradually lose himself. He was very cruel to his guards and grain officers, and he did not care about the imperial power and the lives of the people. His arrogance and arrogance exposed his military weaknesses. All this indicates that his defeat has begun. On that hot summer day, Nian Qianyao rode a high-headed horse and returned victoriously. Li Dequan followed, and the two were majestic. Hundreds of civil and military officials knelt on both sides of the road to greet him, and Emperor Yongzheng personally greeted the hero's return. However, Nian Qianyao was leisurely, and it was not until Yongzheng walked in front of him that he calmly dismounted.
Emperor Yongzheng greatly appreciated Nian Qianyao's military exploits, named him a first-class duke, and added the title of prince and concubine. In recognition of his merits, he was also awarded the honorary title of Jingqi Nihafan, and was rewarded with four dragon robes and three-eyed flowers. However, in the face of these commendations, Nian Qianyao did not show too much excitement, but let Emperor Yongzheng personally deliver them to him. At the moment of rewarding, Nian Qianyao made a list of many meritorious personnel and asked Yongzheng to reward them one by one. Not only that, but he also took the opportunity to install his cronies in the court and help them be promoted to knighthood. However, his actions eventually became the fuse that pushed him to a dead end. On that day, the news of the great victory in the northwest reached the Beijing Division, and the Yongzheng Emperor rewarded the generals with first-class military merits on the Jinluan Palace. The weather was hot, and Emperor Yongzheng cared for them to summon them to his side, reminding them that they could take off their armor and cool down. Although the generals agreed in unison, their eyes all turned to Nian Qianyao on the side. Only after Nian Qianyao nodded his head that the generals responded in a louder voice: "Huh", and then removed their armor. Nian Qianyao explained to Emperor Yongzheng: "They are used to staying in the barracks, and they only know the military orders, not the emperor. ”
Nian Qianyao's arrogance and arrogance did not end there. Not only did he carry out military affairs in the northwest without authorization, but he also obstructed the implementation of the New Deal. When the Yongzheng Emperor sent Sun Jiacheng, a financial expert, to the northwest with Nian Qianyao, Sun Jiacheng implemented the policy of "returning fire to the public" in accordance with the emperor's will. However, Nian Qianyao openly disobeyed the order and even brutally killed Sun Jiacheng.
This incident became the fuse and caused great dissatisfaction among Emperor Yongzheng. He sent Chin Cha Tu Lichen to the northwest to seize the position of Nian Qianyao's great general. Nian Qianyao was demoted to the general of Hangzhou, although his position was reduced, he still did not change the style of a general. He lived a life of luxury and was unfazed by the court's derogatory orders. The crimes of the hundred officials again made him demoted to the rank of Hangzhou general of the fourth grade. During the mourning of the Queen Mother, he still took more than a dozen Mongolian concubines to swagger through the market. Emperor Yongzheng could no longer tolerate his actions and demoted Nian Qianyao to the seventh rank of Hangzhou Qianzong. However, Nian Qianyao still went his own way, ignoring the orders of the imperial court. Emperor Yongzheng had to punish him again and demote him by five levels in a row. At this time, Nian Qianyao's identity was not even considered a ninth grade, and he was relegated to a county in Hangzhou to guard the city gate. Even so, he was still unwilling to bow his head and admit his mistakes, insisting on wearing a yellow coat and refusing to bend his waist and bow his head.
A generation of heroes Nian Qianyao once made great achievements for the Yongzheng Emperor, but under the shroud of victory and glory, he became arrogant and conceited. He placed his own glory in opposition to Emperor Yongzheng and the imperial power, and insisted on challenging the bottom line of the imperial power. However, he didn't realize that his success and honor were all gifts and charities from Emperor Yongzheng. Without the support and protection of the emperor, Nian Qianyao was nothing. Yongzheng, the wise monarch of the Qing Dynasty, his contribution is unparalleled. However, Nian Qianyao's arrogance is the biggest trigger for his self-destruction. As a general, his heroic performance in the Northwest Victory brought him to the pinnacle of power. However, this also made him begin to indulge in the thrill of power, and was no longer satisfied with being an ordinary minion. What he longed for was supreme power, the kind of life that allowed him to do whatever he wanted. It's a pity that he was too eager for quick success and didn't see his position and situation clearly.
When Yongzheng issued a warning to him, his behavior seemed very contradictory. He knelt outside the fourth master's door for a whole afternoon, just to be summoned by the fourth master. However, when he saw the slave serving the fourth master to wash his feet, he actually snatched it and washed the feet of the fourth master. This behavior may seem humble, but it also shows his wit and decisiveness. He understands that in order to gain a foothold in the power struggle, one must have enough wisdom and strategy. However, I also saw the flaws in his bones. That is his arrogance and arrogance. When washing Yongzheng's feet, he seemed to show the humble posture that a slave should have. However, when Yongzheng is not in front of him, or he thinks that he is strong enough to support his pride, he begins to get carried away. He forgot Yongzheng's warning to him, and forgot that in the power struggle, there are only eternal interests and no eternal friends.
Therefore, I believe that Nian Qianyao's failure is doomed. His arrogance and ambition both led him to lose his way in the game of thrones. He refuses to give in to anyone, he just wants to be the biggest winner. What he doesn't realize, however, is that in the game of thrones, the biggest winners are often those who can see the situation clearly and know how to move forward and retreat. And Nian Qianyao's failure lies in the fact that he is too greedy and arrogant. In the torrent of history, Nian Qianyao once forgot his original identity, he was a minion, only for the humility and lowliness represented by the footwashing water. But in the light of this basin of footwater, he showed unwavering determination, unwilling to give in, unwilling to bend his waist. He failed to recognize the root of the problem, which may have been the source of his tragedy. Yongzheng issued orders to him many times and demoted him to an official position, but he was stubborn and insisted on himself until the last moment of his life.
Nian Qianyao knew that he was dying, but he chose to take a gamble and challenge Yongzheng's endurance with the clothed minions. He gambled with pride and dignity, and showed stubbornness on the final stage of his life. In the years of the Northwest Rebellion, he knew that Yongzheng had emptied the treasury and offended the Manchu Dynasty. After being demoted to the general of Hangzhou, his subordinates advised him to reduce his pomp, but he responded with arrogance: "You are afraid ......."If you want to die, you will die vigorously. When he was demoted to Hangzhou Qianzong, he asked Sang Chengyi to take away the pregnant Mongolian concubines Wuyun Qiqige and Sang Duonai, and expressed the concept of life and death of "a big husband is in the world, sorrow and fear are death, and vigorous is also death". Nian Qianyao has long had the intention of dying, and his death is self-inflicted, but it is also extremely sad.
In the depths of his heart, there has always been an unyielding arrogance that supports his glory and dignity. Nian Qianyao does not allow anyone to touch or destroy, even in the face of Yongzheng, he will never bow his head. His life is only to protect that inviolable dignity. Nian Qianyao's life is like a drama of ups and downs. He was so powerful in the Battle of the Northwest that he was given his death in a desolate manner. climbed all the way from the status of a slave to a general, and then fell all the way from the general king to a soldier guarding the city gate, and finally ended his life with a three-foot white silk. This is Nian Qianyao's life, and his slave status has become the beginning and end of his life, and he can't get rid of the fate between the imperial power and the master's balance after all. Nian Qianyao's road to success is paved with blood and brutality, and his destruction is rooted in arrogance and self-inflicted blame. , a once prominent figure, went to the path of tragedy because of arrogance and stubbornness. In the pages of history, his life is as short and dazzling as a bright star. "The basin of footwashing water that has never been poured out has already revealed his inner stubbornness and refusal to admit defeat. Although Yongzheng belittled him many times, he still did not repent, because deep down in his heart, he was just Nian Qianyao and just wanted to be Nian Qianyao. But he forgets that the ground beneath his feet does not belong to him. In the last game of chess with the cowherd, he took the first step, perhaps, he finally understood, but unfortunately it was too late.
When Wu Sidao left after helping the fourth master win the throne, he said a word to the thirteenth master: It is easy to socialize with ordinary people, enjoy together, but it is difficult to share hardships; It is easy to associate with the Son of Heaven, but it is difficult to share hardships and pleasures. The master and the servant, the king and the minister, in fact, are destined to have an unbridgeable gap. Who is Nian Qianyao's life busy for, is it him or someone else? It's a self-inflicted trick of fate. I can only sigh. "